Announcement of Changes to the Marine Corps Tattoo Policy

1.  PURPOSE.  TO DETAIL REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE
TATTOO POLICY FOUND IN MCO P1020.34G, MARINE CORPS UNIFORM
REGULATIONS.  
2.  EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2007, PARAGRAPH 1004.1C OF MCO P1020.34G,
MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS, IS CANCELLED AND REPLACED WITH
THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH.  "... MARINES ARE PROHIBITED FROM:   
C.  TATTOOS OR BRANDS ON THE HEAD AND NECK.  SLEEVE TATTOOS ARE
LIKEWISE PROHIBITED.  A SLEEVE TATTOO IS A VERY LARGE TATTOO, OR A
COLLECTION OF SMALLER TATTOOS, THAT COVERS OR ALMOST COVERS A
PERSON S ENTIRE ARM OR LEG.  HALF-SLEEVE OR QUARTER-SLEEVE TATTOOS
THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE EYE WHEN WEARING STANDARD PT GEAR (T-SHIRT
AND SHORTS) ARE LIKEWISE PROHIBITED.  A HALF-SLEEVE OR QUARTER-SLEEVE
TATTOO IS DEFINED AS A VERY LARGE TATTOO, OR A COLLECTION OF SMALLER
TATTOOS THAT COVERS, OR ALMOST COVERS, THE ENTIRE PORTION OF AN ARM
OR LEG ABOVE OR BELOW THE ELBOW OR KNEE.
TATTOOS OR BRANDS THAT ARE PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER, DISCIPLINE AND
MORALE, OR ARE OF A NATURE TO BRING DISCREDIT UPON THE MARINE CORPS ARE
ALSO PROHIBITED.  PREJUDICIAL TO GOOD ORDER, DISCIPLINE AND MORALE, OR
ARE OF A NATURE TO BRING DISCREDIT UPON THE MARINE CORPS MAY INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, ANY TATTOO THAT IS SEXIST, RACIST, VULGAR,
ANTI-AMERICAN, ANTI-SOCIAL, GANG RELATED, OR EXTREMIST GROUP OR
ORGANIZATION RELATED."
3.  THE FOLLOWING NEW SUPARAGRAPHS 1004.1C(1) AND 1004.1C(2) ARE ADDED.
"(1) MARINES WHO CURRENTLY HAVE A SLEEVE TATTOO(S) WILL BE GRANDFATHERED. 
THE MARINE'S COMMAND WILL INSERT A PHOTOGRAPH(S) OF THE RESPECTIVE
TATTOO(S) ALONG WITH A MEASUREMENT(S) OF THE SIZE IN INCHES AND OF THE
LOCATION(S) ON THE BODY AND THE DATE THE TATTOO(S) WAS DOCUMENTED, ON THE
PAGE 11 OF THE MARINE'S SRB.  THE MARINE WILL SIGN THE PAGE 11 ENTRY
VERIFYING THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT." 
"(2) THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS IS DESIGNATED
AS THE ADJUDICATING AUTHORITY FOR ANY TATTOO ISSUE INVOLVING RETENTION OR
SPECIAL DUTY ASSIGNMENTS.  REVIEW OF A QUESTIONABLE TATTOO(S) WILL BE
SUBMITTED TO DC M&RA (MM) VIA THE REENLISTMENT, EXTENSION, LATERAL MOVE
SYSTEM (RELMS).  THE PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE A PHOTOGRAPH(S) OF THE TATTOO(S),
MEASUREMENT(S) OF THE SIZE IN INCHES, DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATION(S) AND
EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TATTOO(S) HAS BEEN DEEMED QUESTIONABLE BY THE
COMMANDER."
4.  COMMANDER'S ARE REQUIRED TO EDUCATE ALL THEIR MARINES ON THE NEW POLICY
AND DOCUMENT ANY MARINE THAT REQUIRES GRANDFATHERING BY 1 JULY 2007.